Researcher: MHF Page 1 4/11/23
OLR Bill Analysis
HB 6825
AN ACT CONCERNING THE APPEARANCE OF UNFILLED
VACANCIES IN CANDIDACIES ON THE BALLOT.
SUMMARY
This bill conforms the law to current practice by expanding the
options that town clerks may use to obscure the name of a candidate
when there is an unfilled vacancy on the ballot in a primary or general
election (i.e., due to death, withdrawal, or disqualification). Currently,
the law requires clerks to place blank stickers over the name, but under
current practice and following guidance from the secretary of the state,
blank stickers are generally not used because the state’s voting
tabulators cannot process ballots with stickers. Under the bill, instead of
using blank stickers, clerks may obscure the name (e.g., using black
marker).
Under existing law, if a political party’s endorsed candidate (in a
primary) or nominee (in a general election) dies, withdraws, or is
otherwise disqualified, state law has a process for replacing him or her
on the ballot and sets a deadline for doing so (CGS §§ 9-428 and 9-460).
Unchanged by the bill, if ballots have already been printed and the
candidate can be replaced under state law, printed stickers are placed
over the vacancy with the replacement candidate or nominee’s name.
(In practice, a hand count is generally required if stickers are affixed to
the ballot.)
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee 2023HB-06825-R000488-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MHF Page 2 4/11/23
Joint Favorable
Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/22/2023)